With temperatures in Arkansas fluctuating right around the freezing point, your home may experience a lot of water freezing and melting on the exterior. This can form problematic (and potentially dangerous) conditions on your home’s roof, known as ice dams.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that build up as water accumulates and freezes along the borders of your roof, creating a barrier that prevents melting snow and water from effectively draining off the roof. Once an ice dam forms, it can continue to build up very quickly as water collects and refreezes along its border instead of draining through your gutter system.
An ice dam begins with snow collecting on your roof and results from temperature imbalances along the surface — for example, if higher sections of your roof are above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) and lower sections are below freezing. In that case, snow will melt on the higher sections before sliding down and refreezing as ice near the edge where it’s colder.
So what causes these temperature fluctuations on your roof? Typically, temperature inconsistencies occur through indoor heating rising through the attic insulation and warming up the high point of your roof. The edges of your roof will remain colder because they are not directly above the attic space.
Ice dams can be hazardous both to your home and to your household. As ice dams form large icicles along the edges of your roof, your gutters bear extra weight and there is an injury risk for anyone walking beneath them. Water dripping down from the ice dams onto walkways may form sheets of ice and create a falling hazard as well.
Beyond this external risk to the people in your home, ice dams can lead to significant property damage, including:
Because ice dams can be so dangerous to your personal safety and the integrity of your home, it’s important to take steps to keep ice dams from forming!
Preventing ice dams ultimately comes down to keeping the temperature of your roof even, avoiding pockets of warmth that will allow snow to melt unevenly and refreeze on the colder areas of the roof. Here are some tips for managing your roof’s temperature.
Because uneven temperatures on the roof are caused by heat leaking through the attic, this is where you should start your ice dam prevention plan. Ensure your attic’s insulation is in good condition and proper ventilation redirects heat build-up evenly. You can use a hydrometer to check the humidity levels in your attic, and consider installing a dehumidifier to reduce attic moisture.
In addition to checking your attic’s insulation, do an audit of the insulation throughout your entire home. If you don’t have good quality siding and windows to better manage airflow throughout your home, this may contribute to the problem of humidity and heat building up in the attic. If you’re dealing with ice dams and also noticing higher energy bills, new windows may be just the thing to solve both problems! High-quality windows can make a big impact for your home.
Especially if your gutters have been damaged by ice dams in the past, you should consider updating your home’s gutter system. While new gutters won’t protect against the formation of ice dams (an issue that needs to be addressed through your roof’s temperature), they will help divert water away from your roof to prevent home water damage. Gutter guards will not cause ice dams to form, but can stop gutters from clogging so melting snow and ice can be effectively diverted instead of building up into eventual ice dams.
Gutters are essential for protecting your home from water damage all year round, and with the K-Guard Gutter System, you won’t have to worry about leaves and debris quickly building up and reducing your gutter’s effectiveness! Once you have a leaf-free gutter system installed on your home, you won’t have to worry about it again. We’re so confident that your gutters will remain clog-free that if a clog does occur, we’ll come take care of it completely free of charge!
Ready to give your gutter system a durable and beautiful upgrade?
Contact us and see the difference the Hanke Brothers can make for your home this winter!
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